Brussels, 30/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, “concerned” about the “increasing” use of the death penalty in Iraq, reiterated her call, on 27 January, for the country to put an end to executions and to introduce a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, with a view to its abolition.
Ashton also called on Iraq, “pending the introduction of a moratorium”, to adhere to minimum international standards for the use of the death penalty. “The death penalty should only be imposed for the most serious crimes, and in the case of clear and compelling evidence. It should never be used in cases where convictions were based on confessions that may have been coerced, and an effective right to appeal must be ensured”, she said, repeating the EU's opposition to capital punishment.
On Tuesday 24 January, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, reacting to the sentencing and execution on 19 January of 34 people, called for a moratorium leading to abolition of the death penalty. More than 1,200 people have been condemned to death in Iraq since 2004 and, since 16 November of last year, the UN has identified at least 63 executions. In that country, 48 different crimes are punishable by death. These include, under certain circumstances, damage to public goods. (CG/transl.rt)